Colorado Senate passes bill helping undocumented students with college tuition

By Lynn Bartels The Denver Post

Updated:
04/09/2012 11:13:55 AM MDT

Without a word of debate, the Senate today approved a bill intended to help undocumented students attend college.

Senate Bill 15 passed on a 20-14 party-line vote, with every Democrat in favor of the measure sponsored by Sens. Angela Giron, D-Pueblo, and Mike Johnston, D-Denver.

The bill was expected to pass as Democrats control the Senate, but the surprise came when there was no debate during the official vote. Recently, official votes have been accompanied by yet another round of debate on the measure.

Senate Bill 15 would allow undocumented students who have completed three years of a Colorado high school and graduated in good standing to pay a separate tuition rate from other non-resident students.

They would not get in-state tuition rates but would not have to pay pricey out-of-state tuition rates.